Man arrested by RCMP over allegations he might commit terrorism

The RCMP released few details Wednesday in the case of a 20-year-old man from Prince Edward Island who was arrested under a rarely used provision of the Criminal Code amid allegations that police feared he would commit a terrorism offence.

The RCMP issued a brief statement saying only that Amir Raisolsadat was arrested after a peace bond was ordered under Section 810.01 of the Criminal Code of Canada. Information sworn in court in Charlottetown on Tuesday states that Raisolsadat, a student from Stratford, was released on conditions and must return to provincial court on April 20.

The court document indicates that RCMP member Alexis Triantafillou "fears on reasonable grounds" that Raisolsadat will commit a terrorism offence.

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Raisolsadat signed the recognizance acknowledging the allegation, while also agreeing to remain in the province, notify the RCMP if he changes his address, employment or occupation. He agreed to pay $500 if he fails to appear in court.

He must also not possess a firearm and report to police once a week.

The RCMP refused to release any information about him or the specific nature of the alleged threat, citing an ongoing criminal investigation.

The statement said police may pursue an application for an order requiring someone to keep the peace and be of good behaviour under the Criminal Code if they believe that person may commit a terrorism offence.

A man who identified himself as Raisolsadat's father when reached by telephone repeatedly said he had no comment.

A Facebook page under the name of an Amir Raisolsadat, which was later taken down on Wednesday, says he was a chemistry student at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown.

A spokeswoman for the university would not confirm or deny that Raisolsadat was a student at the school, adding that it has not been contacted by law enforcement agencies about the case.

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A professor in the chemistry department said he taught an Amir Raisolsadat two chemistry courses, describing him as a good student.

"He seems like a calm, very quiet guy," Rabin Bissessur, chairman of the department, said in an interview. "(He was) a very good student and he got good marks. He attended all of my classes, (and he) was trying hard."

Bissessur said the student was from Iran, but he didn't know anything about his family or when they came to Canada.

Bissessur said there was nothing that stood out about Raisolsadat, other than he had a keen interest in chemistry.

"He also took my first-year chemistry, you know I mean, [he] loved chemistry," he said. "Just because he's in chemistry doesn't mean, you know, he's a terrorist."

This is the second time in the last month that the RCMP has sought a peace bond against someone over a suspicion they might commit a terror offence.

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A summons was issued in February for Merouane Ghalmi to appear before a Quebec Court judge in Montreal to sign a peace bond after the RCMP said it feared he would commit a terrorism offence.

No document was signed in the case on Feb. 26 and the case was postponed to give Ghalmi's lawyers time to review the evidence.

Ghalmi has not been charged with any offence. It is not known why the Mounties say they are concerned about him because the contents of a sworn affidavit have been sealed.